Miniature rose plant

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant characterized by the abundance of small double pink flowers and by the bushy spreading growth habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy,dwarf, bush type rose plant of the miniature class; the variety beingprimarily characterized--as to novelty--by soft pink to rose pink budsand flowers which in general color effect are similar to Eleanor,miniature (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,175).

The variety is further characterized by:

An abundance of bloom, with flowers usually borne several to the stem inloose clusters.

Little or no fragrance.

A plant which is vigorous, of rounded somewhat spreading shape withsemi-glossy small foliage with pointed leaflets; the buds and flowersbeing similar in form and size to June Time (miniature--U.S. Plant Pat.No. 2,563).

The plant, which has a normal height of 10-12 inches and a mature spreadof 24-30 inches, can easily be maintained at lesser size by occasionaltrimming.

A plant which grows and blooms satisfactorily both in greenhouse andoutdoors; is good for growing in pots or hanging baskets; and providesexcellent garden decoration as well as cut flowers.

The present variety of miniature rose was originated by me at SequoiaNursery located at Visalia, Calif., under conditions of careful controland observation, as a cross between an un-named seedling (RosaWichuriana × Floradora) not patented as the seed parent and Sheri Anne(miniature--U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,826), as the pollen parent.

Subsequent to origination of the variety I successfully reproduced it,at Sequoia Nursery, located as aforesaid, by budding as well as bycuttings; the reproductions having run true in all respects.

The color photograph illustrates the variety, including the foliage,buds and flowers.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant, the following is a detailed description thereof in outline;all major color plate identifications being by reference to the BritishColour Council Horticultural Colour Chart, except where common terms ofcolor definition are employed.

Type: Hardy; dwarf; bushy; rounded; spreading; seedling; greenhouse;outdoors; cut flowers; garden decoration; potted plant.

Class: Miniature. Variety name: Happy Thought.

Flowers borne: Usually several together in clusters of 3-5 or more onslender wirey stems.

Quantity of bloom: Abundant both outside and in greenhouse.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Medium length; slender but sturdy; erect; medium green, oftentinted bronze (outdoors); Hairs -- fairly numerous (similar to peachfuzz).

Before calyx breaks.--Size -- small. Form short; pointed with severalsmall foliaceous apendages and numerous tiny hairs (like fuzz) onsurface of bud; with foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of thebud equal to one-half or less of its length. Color -- medium green,often tinted with bronze (outdoors).

As calyx breaks.--(A) Color -- in greenhouse, medium pink -- nearCarmine Rose 621 and (B) Outdoors (November 1978) -- shades of red --near Blood Red 820/2 sometimes overlaid with areas of darker red, withpale greenish or white area at base.

Opening.--Opens well in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Small, averaging about 30-35 mm (11/4").

Petalage.--Double -- averaging about 45-55 petals, arranged regularlyplus sometimes several small petaloids.

Form.--Cupped at first, becoming more rounded in the center, with petalsreflexing loosely outward and later at maturity, rolled loosely outwardand downward. Less double flowers may show stamens and pistils.

Petals: Fairly thin; satiny on inside and on outside surface.

Shape.--Outside petals -- broad lanceolate with rounded tip plus verysmall (short) acute tip; Intermediate -- broad lanceolate with roundedtip plus very small (short) acute tip; Inside -- lanceolate with acutetip.

Color: Newly opened flower from a plant grown indoors (plastic house),November 1978, Visalia, Calif.:

Outside petals.--Outside surface -- near Carmine Rose 621 and 621/1 withsmall white area at base. Inside surface -- near Carmine Rose 621 and621/1 with small near white area at base.

Intermediate petal.--Outside surface -- similar to outside petal butwith near white to yellow at base. Inside surface -- similar to outsidepetal, but with near white to yellow at base.

Inner petal.--Outside surface -- similar to intermediate petal; Insidesurface -- similar to intermediate petal.

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers -- soft pink to rose pink.Three days open -- color (in greenhouse) similar to newly opened flowersbut less brilliant (see behavior).

Behavior.--Open well in all weather. Color lasts well and (outdoors) maybecome darker with age (near Neyron Rose 623/1 shading or blending intodarker rose near petal tips). Spent petals drop off. Flower longevity(May 1978) -- plant in pot 6-8 days or longer. Cut flowers at livingroom temperature 3 to 5 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--May or may not be present, arranged regularly about pistils.

Filaments.--Varying length; fairly long, yellow.

Anthers.--(When present) well formed; yellow.

Pollen.--Little or none.

Pistils.--Average number.

Styles.--Fairly even; medium to long; bunched; color -- near white.

Stigmas.--Near white .

Ovaries.--All enclosed in calyx.

Hips.--None.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear shaped; recurved against peduncle.

Seed.--None.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Compound of five (sometimes three or seven); leaflets; fairlysmall; leathery; semi-glossy.

Leaflets.--Shape: nearly oval; apex acute; base rounded or roundedacute. Margin serrate. Color: medium green; new growth -- normal(medium) green (outdoors -- foliage darker green; new growth bronzy).Rachis: medium strength; upper side may have a few tiny short pricklesor hairs, grooved; underside sparsely thorny with few or no tinyprickles or hairs. Stipules: medium long; narrow to medium width; mediumlength; narrow points which turn out usually at about 45 degrees.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf; bushy; rounded; spreading; much branched.

Growth.--Free vigorous; internodes short.

Canes.--Medium; slender; willowy.

Main stems.--Color: medium green.

Thorns.--Average; slender; nearly straight; may be slightly hooked orinclined slightly downward; color: brown. Prickles -- none. Hairs --none.

Branches.--Color: medium green. Thorns: moderate number; medium length;slender; nearly straight, inclined downward. Medium oval base. Prickles:none.

Hairs.--None.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown at Visalia, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant of hardy, dwarf, bushy, spreading, much branched habit,substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by buds andflowers of a soft pink to rose pink color, being of a shade generallynear Carmine Rose 621/1, the bud and flower resembling the variety JuneTime (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 2,563) in form and size; and furthercharacterized by a plant of vigorous and compact growth habit, easy topropagate from cuttings or by budding, with an abundance of small tomedium size semi-glossy foliage and an abundance of flowers borneusually in loose clusters of 3 to 5 or more.